University Southern California Trojans
2011 USC Women's Water Polo Outlook
January 26, 2011 | Women's Water Polo
Jan. 26, 2011
While big names drew top honors for the Women of Troy in 2010, USC's national championship run had a depth charge sparked by a set of players plugging in big numbers while gleaning big experience. Almost a third of the Trojans' scoring in 2010 was provided by two players. Both are back for 2011. And they brought reinforcements.
Returning All-Americans Joelle Bekhazi and Patricia Jancso combined for 101 goals last year. Fellow All-American Kristen Dronberger scored seven goals in the NCAA Tournament alone. Altogether, every player back in the water for USC this season knows nothing else but NCAA title matches.
"These players don't know anything but NCAA championships. And to judge by the history, we're going to get there again," USC head coach and 2010 National Coach of the Year Jovan Vavic said. "It's something they know how to do. They know how to compete through the season."
Bekhazi and Dronberger are two-time All-Americans as they enter their final season alongside fellow seniors Courtney Ray and Sarah Van Norman. Jancso was tabbed the 2010 MPSF Newcomer of the Year as a freshman after serving up 45 goals in her first season as a Trojan. Joining in that youth movement will be sophomore Dominique Sardo and junior Nadia Dan, both of whom provided a key punch for the Women of Troy in their run to the 2010 national championship and a 25-3 overall record.
From an outsider's perspective, it's easy to see the departures of Cutino Award-winning Olympian Kami Craig, MPSF Player of the Year Tumua Anae, and All-Americans Forel Davies, Alexandra Kiss and Kally Lucas as a gaping hole in the USC roster for the season to come. Almost too easy.
"We lost five, but a solid group of players are coming back, and six contributed heavily," Vavic said. "I think our strength is going to be returning six players who played major roles for us last year. Those six girls have experience in big games and in winning championships. And I think some of those younger girls are really hungry and are ready to get some playing time this year."
Those six players - All-Americans Bekhazi, Dronberger and Jancso along with Dan, Sardo and Van Norman - accounted for over half of USC's goal scoring in 2010. Four of those players got to the back of the net in the NCAA championship game. So it's getting easier to see why Vavic sees a winning formula in his 2011 Women of Troy.
Where Craig took up the bulk of the load at two-meters last year, Vavic sees an opportunity to set by committee, as he has a group of powerful players lined up to dominate the hole position. And while Anae manned the cage to great success in become USC's all-time saves leader, Vavic has plugged in Hungarian goalie Flora Bolonyai to cap up in red along with senior goalie Courtney Ray.
"At two-meter, I'd say we have four or five different girls who can set to make up for the loss of Kami, so we'll be able to do well at that position," Vavic said. "And our new goalie Flora looks very, very good. She's long, and what I like about Flora is she isn't afraid of the ball. She's tough and very smart. I can already tell that she's a quick learner.
That balance of two-meter presence and goalkeeping talent is just a part of the picture, of course. USC's perimeter strength is undeniable. Top-scorer Bekhazi and her No. 2 Jancso are just a pair of the heavy hitter waiting to strike for the Trojans. The versatile Dronberger wields a dangerous arm. Dan has one of the sharpest left hands in the game. Junior Kara-Leigh Huse can blast with the best of them. And a set of returning sophomores also showed their scoring skill as freshmen in Sardo, Constance Hiller, Nicolina McCall, Blair Moody and Chelsea Silvers.
"Another strength would be our outside shooting. We have quite a few good outside shooters, and probably three of the best in the nation," Vavic said. "I think Dronberger and Joelle have a realistic shot of winning player of the year, and between Patricia, Dominique and Nadia, we have another three girls who are really as good as anybody out there.
"I think that this team is a very, very good team. We're not the same as last year, because we were different with Kami and Tumua, but we do have an excellent goalie and we have some powerful outside shooters returning. And Sarah [Van Norman] is now a senior two-meter player. She knows the system. She's been playing the position for years and it's her time to shine. She's determined and hungry because she's been waiting for this opportunity. She's one of several girls who are capable of setting as well. They're all players who can beat you."
The introductions to the Trojan newcomers for 2011 will come quickly. U.S. Junior National Team players Colleen O'Donnell and Madeline Rosenthal headline the class of talent, which also includes another two-meter force in Kaleigh Gilchrist.
"Maddie, Colleen O'Donnell and Kaleigh - all three will help us right away. They're all pretty strong and big girls; they're tough and they all can play and contribute. We are definitely more lanky this year, and it definitely helps," Vavic said as he rounds out his new class of talent, which also includes newcomers Georgette Hernandez, Colleen McCall, Jennifer Stiefel and Sandra Stiefel along with goalies Bolonyai, Cailin McLennan and Adrienne Taylor.
That group will get the same quick-fire training that their older teammates have also received in their previous seasons. Because it may be months away, but the Trojans know the path to take. Come May, there's a national championship awaiting.
"Getting to the NCAA final is always a big accomplishment," Vavic said. "Many teams don't make it to NCAAs, and we've been making it to the finals every year. Every year our goal is always the same - to get to the NCAA final, and win it."
